Find My Past says: “You can search around 11,000 records of men who served with the so-called ‘Manchester Pals’ battalions: the 16th (Service) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment to the 23rd (Service) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment (inclusive).

“The formation of the brigades was recorded in a collection of platoon photographs and lists. This set of records consists of an index of the names taken from these lists. Each name is linked to the platoon list in which it appears and to the corresponding platoon photograph.

“One of the benefits of these fantastic records is the photographs they contain. The photographs aren’t named so won’t tell you exactly which man is your ancestor, but they do provide a rare and compelling insight into the battalion he served with.

Manchester Roll of Honour

“[The Manchester Roll of Honour] records contain 63,000 names in a listing of Manchester companies and the men working for those companies who served in some capacity during WWI.

“The Rolls of Honour list men who enlisted in the Army and Royal Navy and mostly relate to companies in and around Manchester. There is a significant number from Yorkshire, however, as well as a few from Cheshire and Derbyshire.

“The information that the records tell you about your ancestors varies considerably. A small number of men are identified by last name only and many more only by last name and initials.

“There are entries, however, which identify the ranks, service numbers and regiments of each man. A number of men are identified as killed or missing in action and a few are recorded as having been rejected as unfit for service. A very small number of rolls include photographs of the men named.”